Healthy Japanese Recipes

Find healthy, delicious Japanese recipes including Japanese vegetables, noodles, pork, tofu and sushi recipes. Healthier recipes, from the food and nutrition experts at EatingWell.

Most Popular

Sunomono (Japanese Cucumber Salad)

Rating: 4.5 stars 6
This version of sunomono uses more readily available English or slicing cucumbers, but if you live near an Asian market you could substitute Japanese cucumbers. Some recipes call for salting the cucumbers first, but we found that squeezing them in paper towels removed enough excess moisture without adding additional sodium. This Japanese-inspired salad is cool, crisp and simply delicious.
By Jessie Price

Spicy Ramen Cup of Noodles

Rating: 5 stars 9
Make your own cup of instant soup at home with this vegetarian ramen recipe. Pack several jars at once to take to work for easy lunches throughout the week.
By Devon O'Brien

Chicken Ramen with Bok Choy & Soy Eggs

Ditch the seasoning packet! Homemade ramen may take more time but it's worth it for the deep, impressive flavor.
Kathy Gunst
By Kathy Gunst

Pasta e Fagioli with Instant Ramen Noodles

Rating: 3 stars 1
Quick sautéed vegetables, canned tomatoes, dried oregano and canned beans transform ramen noodle soup mix into this classic Italian favorite in minutes. To cut back on sodium, look for ramen varieties with less than 600 mg sodium per serving or use less of the seasoning packet.
By Carolyn A Hodges, RD

Sichuan Ramen Cup of Noodles with Cabbage & Tofu

Rating: 4.5 stars 2
The Sichuan province in the southwestern corner of China is known for its fiery dishes. Here, the richness of tahini tempers the spicy chile paste in this cup-of-noodles-style mason jar soup recipe. You can grind the Sichuan peppercorns in a spice grinder or mortar and pestle, or crush them with the bottom of a heavy skillet.
By Sarah DiGregorio

Sesame Instant Ramen Noodles with Broccoli & Soft-Boiled Egg

Rating: 4 stars 1
Jazz up basic ramen noodles with toasted sesame oil, quick-cooked broccoli and a jammy soft-boiled egg. To cut back on sodium, look for ramen varieties with less than 600 mg sodium per serving or use less of the seasoning packet.
By Carolyn A Hodges, RD

Gomae (Japanese-Style Spinach)

Rating: 5 stars 1
Typically you puree sesame seeds to make the dressing for this traditional spinach side dish recipe, but we use tahini to make it easier and quicker.
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By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Japanese-Inspired Chicken Noodle Soup

Rating: 5 stars 2
This healthy, Japanese-inspired chicken noodle soup recipe is made with udon noodles and gets a hit of umami flavor from a swirl of miso at the end. To make the miso easier to stir into the soup, combine a little bit of the hot broth with the thick miso to thin it before adding to the rest of the soup.
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By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Matcha Green Tea Latte

Rating: 5 stars 4
A touch of honey balances the bitterness of matcha in this healthy latte recipe. For a nondairy latte, swap unsweetened almond, soy or coconut milk for the low-fat milk.
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By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Spinach Salad with Ginger-Soy Dressing

Rating: 4.5 stars 7
This spinach salad tossed with spunky ginger dressing was inspired by the iceberg salads served at Japanese steakhouses across the U.S. Add shrimp for lunch or a light supper.
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By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Easy Miso-Chicken Ramen

Rating: 4.5 stars 5
Warm up a chilly evening with this healthy chicken-and-vegetable ramen noodle bowl recipe. For a little spice, top with hot sauce, such as Sriracha. Look for dried curly Chinese-style noodles near other Asian ingredients in most well-stocked supermarkets. For a substitute, try whole-wheat angel hair pasta and cook for a few minutes longer.
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By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Japanese Chicken-Scallion Rice Bowl

Rating: 4 stars 22
Here's the quintessence of Japanese home cooking: an aromatic, protein-rich broth served over rice. Admittedly, Japanese cooking leans heavily on sugar--for a less traditional taste, you could reduce or even omit the sugar.
By Victoria Abbott Riccardi
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Inspiration and Ideas

Seaweed Soup with Tofu
Rating: Unrated 2
This fragrant, super savory seaweed soup is made with vitamin-rich wakame seaweed, the same kind often used for soups popular in Japanese and Korean cuisines.
Coconut Shrimp Curry with Instant Ramen Noodles
A splash of coconut milk and some curry powder elevate ordinary ramen soup into a memorable bowl of noodles. Add protein with cooked shrimp or cubed tofu and a pop of freshness with cilantro and lime juice. To cut back on sodium, look for ramen varieties with less than 600 mg sodium per serving or use less of the seasoning packet.
Chicken Katsu with Creamy Slaw
Rating: 5 stars 2

This crispy Japanese chicken recipe comes complete with a creamy warm slaw on the side. Serve with steamed brown rice or buckwheat soba noodles to round out the meal. We like to use chicken cutlets made with dark-meat chicken thighs--they have more than twice the immune-boosting zinc of white-meat chicken breasts.